You Have Arrived.

Colonial Williamsburg.

Jamestown Settlement and Powhatan Village.

The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

Traveling backward and forward in time as we visited living history museum after living history museum exhausted our feet and filled up our brains. We learned new things and reinforced previous understanding by walking the streets and encampments and engaged the people around us in conversation.

I think smoke was coming out of the boys' ears. And there might have been an incident or two of total breakdown and rolling on the floor.

It was time to stop. To decompress. To process through all the information of the past days. And there is no place better to unwind than at the beach.

So we plugged the address into my GPS and waited for that red target to appear and the voice to let us know, "You have arrived."

We not only arrived at an adorable purple cottage with a little slice of heaven just steps past the back door, we arrived at the perfect spot to just sit. To be together and to enjoy each other after days of pressure and agendas.

We arrived at a place where a kid doesn't have to worry if he is allowed to touch. Or to laugh too loudly. Or run.

The kids had arrived.

And at 40+ I've finally arrived at a place in my life where I don't care.

For the first time since the twins were born I put on my bikini.

And not the one with the cute retro high waisted bottoms.

I put on my bikini because I'm 6'1", dang it, and one pieces don't even fit me that well and I'm tired of picking my bathing suit out of my crack. I put on my bikini because tankinis kind of drive me nuts, the way they flutter up around my middle when I'm actually in the water.

I put on my bikini because I'm tired of believing that stretch marks, extra skin, and a "broken" belly button are things that need to be hidden. This is my body. And it is a body that stretched and grew 3 babies -- 2 at the same time, for goodness sake. And if I can't admit that 15 pounds of twins growing inside me might have stretched out the skin on my stomach and left me with an outtie rather than an innie, well, that's just dumb.

I put on my bikini because it's important for me to believe that my body is normal. That my body is nothing to be ashamed of. And it's important for my boys to know that, too. Normal is not what they will grow up seeing on TV and in the magazines. Normal comes in all shapes and sizes. Reality ages and gets stretched out.

This is what reality looks like. In a bikini.

I have arrived.

(But not quite at the place where I will be posting a photo of myself in a bikini online)

Little Pink Houses/Ain't that America

 On we drove on this crazy field trip we have been on. It was not a long drive, and the kids managed a snooze through an entire state. Perhaps it helped that that state was Connecticut and is pretty much only a blink wide. But they still slept. I had to force them to wake up to wave at New York as we drove by.

We almost wished for another couple of days on the road so that we could have stopped to explore that city too. Almost.

And then we drove on to the city of brotherly love. Good old filthy-delphia. To start the next chapter. The one in which we see lots of houses where important people lived and worked.

We've trekked from place to place checking out all these houses.

From Benjamin Franklin.

 To the current presidential administration.

 To George Washington.

 To Thomas Jefferson.

To James Monroe.

To James Madison.

To the homes and cities of friends scattered here and there around these historical locations and all the fascinating conversations that have been a part of those too-brief visits.

There have been stops at museums and other historical buildings along the way, too, but the thing that has really stuck out for me. And I think for all of us. Is the fact that these people. These people who had brilliant ideas. Revolutionary ideas. Who did great things.

Had flaws.

Big ones.

For some, almost unforgivable ones.

Yet...

Despite their flaws. Despite the parts of their lives, the aspects of their world views, the bits of their stories that are unpleasant. Or that I disagree with. Or that shock me. Or that I find flat-out horrifying...

In the midst of all that.

Were ideas and actions and moments that changed the world for the better. And the ugly parts don't change the good that was done.

It can change my view of the men...and it certainly reminds me why it is dangerous to idealize, to idolize these real, these flawed, individuals.

But it also changes my view of my own place in the world. And that of those around me. Despite my (our) many flaws, ugly bits, inconsistencies in world view, there can be so much change, so much good done.

We don't have to be perfect or to have it all together in order to see something in the world that needs to change and speak out for that with boldness and revolutionary ideas.

Thank goodness.

Oh, the Places We've Gone!

A quick stop for lunch on our way to Boston left us with some great inspiration for the next leg of our adventure.

And an adventure it was.

It was a nonstop, action-packed, cousin-filled, crazy three and a half days that somehow felt like both a blink and a lifetime at the same time. I can't explain it.

It began with lobster and steak and s'mores and a "driveway-in" movie.

The next day, there were spooks and haunts and true historical tales and visits to memorials for our 9th great grandmother, who was hanged as a witch in Salem.

"Let Goody Martin rest in peace, I never knew her harm a fly,

And witch or not - God knows - not I?

I know who swore her life away;

And as God lives, I'd not condemn

An Indian dog on word of them."  -John Greenleaf Whittier

After we had done all we could manage and seen as much of the town as humanly possible with the munchkins in tow, we decided it would be a great idea to go to the carnival. 

Because. Childhood. Y'all it ends so quickly. Sometimes you just have to ride the rides.

There was about 500 miles of walking as we first toured Boston Common and the Public Garden then walked the entire freedom trail, including the 294 steps to the top of the Bunker Hill monument. Sing along with us, now, as we Follow the Yellow Red Brick Road with Sweet Caroline.

Please remember that this was 3 adults plus FIVE CHILDREN UNDER TEN YEARS OLD.  We must be crazy.

If we weren't then, they might have driven us there now.

Then just for fun we basically did the whole trail again while riding on a trolley.

After that, I'm pretty sure our feet were about to fall off. And the kids' brains could not possibly absorb another historical detail. We all needed a break.

So what did we do?

We hopped in the car and drove to New Hampshire. Because they have pretty lakes there. And mountains. And more cousins. Who have kayaks and are gracious hosts who don't mind having their own vacation crashed for an afternoon. And it was glorious. 

A perfect ending.

Life is a Highway

So I got this brilliant idea to culminate our school year with a field trip road trip that would highlight some of the US history we have been studying this past school year. I started planning and getting excited and adding destinations, and before I knew it, it had become a monster.

I am super crazy excited to see all the sites (and all the friends and family along the way).

Or maybe I am just super crazy that I am attempting this trip.

The hubs is able to fly out and meet us for the center portion of the sites, but the bulk of the driving will be done by yours truly with little help from the peanut gallery (but perhaps a little help from some doses of Dramamine).

We've been away from home for 5 days already, yet I feel like we've barely gotten anywhere. It seems to me like the Midwest is ridiculous that way. Finally, today, we were able to see see a "sight."

Although it has zero to do with US history unless you count the number of American idiots who have tried to go over the edge in a barrel.

Despite a lack of historically significant points of interest so far, the trip has been far from dull. I've ended each day completely emotionally drained. Between the Wild Things and the family and friends that we have been able to spend time with, there has been laughter, encouragement, tears, politics, shouting, hugs, chit chat, and the bearing of souls.

It's not at all been what I thought I was getting myself into when I planned this adventure. Honestly, I had a list of things that I wanted to see that I could count as both fun and educational. It was a list of things to do and to see.

What this trip has been so far has been more like a list of emotions to feel. Of dark places in my heart to uncover. Of fears to expose. Of people I miss. Of words to be spoken, for good or for bad. Of love to be felt and given. Of tears to be shed -- of joy, of pain, of sorrow, of anger, of laughter.

I'm a little nervous to discover what the next weeks have in store for us!

If I've been giving you the cold shoulder...

Hello there, old friend. I never tire of this view. Simple. Beautiful. Home. 

Let's not discuss whether or not this picture was snapped from a moving vehicle while crossing the Poplar Street Bridge. We all know that construction plus rush hour means nobody was really moving anywhere very quickly anyway. 

And it's not like my T-Rex arm was doing me much good on the steering wheel. It might as well be put to good use elsewhere, right?

I thought so.

There's another view that is becoming all too familiar to me. This one, however, does grow old.

Hello there, neurologists of Wash U. Nice to see you again. Please, feel free to poke me with needles, prod my arm and shoulder, manipulate my body to move in ways that it doesn't want to, and zap me with electricity. It's always a pleasure to spend an entire day with you.

If you missed the original post and want to read how this dino-riffic journey began with a nerve sheath tumor you can do so here. For those who already know or just want to get on with it, here we go. 

After a full day with the super special specialist neurosurgeon and her team, shuffling between offices and doctors and therapists and technicians, it was decided that things with my nerves were looking good. Both the supra scapular and axillary nerves (the two we were concerned about) appear to be connected and slowly re-enervating. If I were having this problem 5 years ago, I am told, they would have said "Hooray! Congratulations! No nerve surgery needed!" However, it being 2017, there is one surgery that might "open up space" in my deltoid for faster healing.

This visit uncovered another problem, though, that will have to be dealt with before we can make any decisions on this new surgery.

Apparently I am now suffering from adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

Big words, I learned, for "frozen shoulder."

So off to another specialist it was. And I couldn't just see any specialist. It needed to be an orthopedic specialist who does shoulders and only shoulders. I get to do that in my beloved Lou, too, since the current city doesn't have the right kind of special specialists. 

I was re-diagnosed with a frozen shoulder and told that I am going to get two steroid injections followed by 6 weeks of intense physical therapy and stretching, stretching, stretching.

Of course, these special people are hard to get appointments with, so I can't get the injections for another 2 weeks. Instead of dinner and roses for Valentine's Day, I get to have a needle stuck deep into my shoulder socket. Twice.💝 Then back to the Sunflower State for therapy and back to the Lou again to see if I can move enough to talk about whether the surgery is needed or not. 

Back and Forth. Back and Forth. Why has no one invented a teleporter yet?

Recovery can take anywhere from months to years.

In the meantime I'll just keep rocking my side pony...

...and reading my Walt Whitman.

Did I forget to mention...?

This amazing boy had a birthday a month ago.

2015 www.jillheupel.com

He took us by storm 6 years ago and has manged to melt my heart just about every. single. day. since.

2015 www.jillheupel.com

2014 at Grinter Farms

2013 www.jillheupel.com

2012 www.jillheupel.com

2011 www.brushfirephotography.com

2010 www.beenblessedstudio.com

2009 www.beenblessedstudio.com

Our creative little man wanted to celebrate his big day with a Lego party. He was voting for Lego Star Wars, really, but we settled on just plain Lego to make Mommy's life easier.

After all, we were going to be having this party in a hotel room at the Lake of the Ozarks.

I asked him if he could cut me a little slack. Thankfully, he agreed. We scaled back his dream party enough that it was able to travel in the back of the trusty Honda.

So, off we went to our little piece of Midwestern paradise. Sigh.

Before the festivities got underway, the Birthday Boy had to endure a few hours out on the lake. It's not his favorite part of the trip, but he snuggled in and suffered through some choppy waters while the rest of us had fun. Despite the chill in the air, the water was incredibly warm, and the kids did decide on a dip before we had to turn back.

Back in the hotel room, the spread was ready and waiting. There were snacks and games and presents enough to make a new 6 year old giddy.

Lego head marshmallows were both adorable and delicious.

There was a whole army of chocolate Lego men surrounding the ruins of a chocolate brick wall.

The cake was topped with gummy Lego bricks and multicolored sprinkles. It looked like the floor after an afternoon spent creating. Shorty called the cake "blue surprise" because it looked white until you cut in and...SURPRISE! The cake itself was bright blue.

By the way, those Lego gummy things were just chewy masses of tastelessness. Lovely for decorating the cake, not so much for the taste buds.

 We had a hilarious game of Stick the Face on Lego Luke Skywalker.

The tiny pinata proved difficult to defeat.

So much fun opening the presents (and playing with the new stuff)!

Later on, there was even time for a game of Foosball with Grandad.

And an evening dip in the cave pool, despite the chilly temperatures.

Thank you, Little Man, for the ways that you enrich and liven up our little household. I couldn't imagine our life without you and your effervescent spirit.

We love you tons and bunches.

12 Days

I'm sure you all know that the actual 12 days of Christmas are the days between Christmas Day and Epiphany, on January 6th. With all the travel we do, it is always a busy time of year for us, but a time full of fun and adventure. This year the boys and I composed our own version of the 12 Days of Christmas to remember a little bit of what went on each day.

Their original version had each verse ending with the phrase "in a kitty potty," but I encouraged a little more thought and creativity for the second draft. Here is what we came up with:

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

a day's drive to our hotel

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

3 hours with cousins

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

4 towns in Ohio

3 hours with cousins

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

5 more hours in the car

4 towns in Ohio

3 hours with cousins

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

6 crazy boys

5 more hours in the car

4 towns in Ohio

3 hours with cousins

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

7 sheets of cookies

6 crazy boys

5 more hours in the car

4 towns in Ohio

3 hours with cousins

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

8 Star Wars figures

7 sheets of cookies

6 crazy boys

5 more hours in the car

4 towns in Ohio

3 hours with cousins

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

 On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

9 cancelled plans

8 Star Wars figures

7 sheets of cookies

6 crazy boys

5 more hours in the car

4 towns in Ohio

3 hours with cousins

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

 On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

10 cold degrees

9 cancelled plans

8 Star Wars figures

7 sheets of cookies

6 crazy boys

5 more hours in the car

4 towns in Ohio

3 hours with cousins

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

11 loads of laundry

10 cold degrees

9 cancelled plans

8 Star Wars figures

7 sheets of cookies

6 crazy boys

5 more hours in the car

4 towns in Ohio

3 hours with cousins

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

12 gifts of love

Charity Gift Catalog | Gifts That Give Back | World Vision | World Vision

11 loads of laundry

10 cold degrees

9 cancelled plans

8 Star Wars figures

7 sheets of cookies

6 crazy boys

5 more hours in the car

4 towns in Ohio

3 hours with cousins

2 bites of green stuff

and a day's drive to our hotel

Hope you all have had a joyful Holiday Season. The Epiphany Queen wishes you a Very Merry New Year.

Now I will force my loyal subjects to watch a little story about a snow queen...